Texas Governor Rick Perry, in a speech in the queer mecca of San Francisco, compared homosexuality to alcoholism—saying people can choose, just like he's choosing, to defy their throbbing, insistent, needy genetic impulses. Sigh.

Russia revived the sweet deal on natural gas it had offered to Ukraine's since-ousted pro-Russian president earlier this year, and Ukraine said no and demanded even more generous terms. And those negotiations—despite all the combat out east, and the Crimean annexation and the posturing among world leaders—mean we've now returned to the real fight between the two countries.

The "Randy Leonard" fire station under construction at the foot of the Hawthorne Bridge is millions over budget, in part because of seismic work and an expensive new boathouse not initially included in estimates. But mostly just because of course it is.

HERE'S RANDY PERFORMING FEATS OF STRENGTH BACK WHEN HE WAS FIRE COMMISSIONER. ALSO JUST BECAUSE.